ABSTRACT
One hundred and twenty patients were evaluated for the presence of haemorrhoids and randomized to diathermy haemonhoidectomy or injection sclerotherapy had preoperative blood culture taken. The clinical sequelae of bacteraemia and complications of surgery [sepsis or bleeding] were assessed prospectively. Twelve patients [17%] of 70 patients with diathermy haemorrhoidectomy and two patients [4%] of 50 who had injection sclerotherapy had positive blood culture for organisms after haemorrhoidectomy and sclerotherapy predominantly gram -ve and anaerobes. Transient postoperative pyrexia in several patients did not correlate with detected bacteria and settled spontaneously without treatment. There were no serious complications from either technique and consequences from proven bacteraemia